Milo Marathon reverts to traditional date

Accra, Sept 7, GNA - This year's annual Accra Milo Marathon which for the first time in its 20 years existence was fixed for Sunday, September 26 has been rescheduled to its traditional date of the last Saturday in September.

Announcing the new date on Tuesday, Mr Colin Taylor, Marketing Manager of Nestle Ghana Limited, the main sponsors of the event said the change in date was after they received the assurance from the security agencies that adequate protection would be guaranteed.

He said they partly reverted to the traditional date because there is the need for sponsors to get maximum exposure of their products to their consumers.

The marathon, traditionally held on the last Saturday in September was changed to the last Sunday by the organisers, Dansoman Keep Fit Club to ensure the safety of the over 3000 participants since there is less vehicular traffic on Sundays.

Mr Taylor also announced that Kenya Airways has also joined the list of sponsors for the competition.

He said Kenya Airways would be providing free accommodation for three days for the Ghanaian team whilst in Holland to participate in the Amsterdam marathon.

Nestle has for the past 18 of the 20 years existence of the Accra Marathon been the major sponsors nurturing it to become the biggest single sport event in West Africa.

This year's event would as usual be in two categories, the 15-kilometer event for children under the ages of 15 which would start from the Kaneshie Sports Complex and a 42.2-kilometer mass sports event which would as usual start from "The Point" Nungua and finish at the premises of the Dansoman Keep Fit club.

Milo for this year's event is investing one billion cedis, which will include the cost of services and other donations. The event in its 20th year has attracted other sponsors such as State Insurance Company (SIC), Royal Dutch Airline (KLM), Stambic Bank Ghana Limited and Mobitel Ghana Limited. 07 Sept. 04